Growing Literacy Outdoors with Mailboxes

My Mailbox Project 

Love this simple idea! Have you ever taken a closer look at mailboxes? Have you ever wondered why some mailboxes capture wonder and excitement while others are half tipped over? This got me thinking. Can mailboxes add Literacy Outdoors?

As I transform my backyard into an Outdoor Learning Lab, I am looking at my outdoor space through a new lens. I am thinking about my four types of Gardens…

• Gardens that Feed
• Gardens Rooted in Curriculum
• Gardens that Attract Wildlife
• Gardens that Honor Intergenerational Connections

…and how I might add a themed mailbox that connects to each Garden Type. To begin I played around with our family mailbox. It was an eyesore and I decided to spruce it up a bit to see what came to be.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

This is only the beginning! Mailboxes of all shapes and sizes can be added to your Outdoor Classroom. My mailbox project will begin with new mailboxes in my vegetable garden and my bird sanctuary. I will also be adding lots of mystery boxes around the entire outdoor space to enable a group of teachers (on retreats) to go on a scavenger hunt. Each mailbox will be painted to represent the theme of the garden. Furthermore, will include themed books inside with additional props for learning.  I look forward to changing up the books and adding an element of surprise! Kid love this!

Do you have a mailbox in your Outdoor Classroom? Remember to try to recycle and repurpose whenever you can. Here are a few boxes from the Christ Church Parish Day School in Hamilton, MA. Thanks, Anne!

Wonder Box

Library Mailbox

Now I want to hear from you. Do you want to grow Literacy outdoors with mailboxes? Let’s do this together. Leave a comment below, share a picture, stay tuned and watch this mailbox project evolve! Can’t wait to see your designs!

Onward,

Victoria